Brazil
Argentina
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Belgium
Spain
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Switzerland
Historic square · La Serena, Coquimbo
Plaza de Armas de La Serena
Central square of La Serena, on the site where the city was refounded in 1549. It has a stone fountain, palm trees and jacarandas, and around it are the Catedral, neoclassical public buildings and the Museo Histórico Gabriel González Videla.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Plaza de Armas de La Serena
The Plaza de Armas occupies the spot where La Serena was refounded in 1549, after the first settlement of 1544 was destroyed. It is the heart of the historic center and the city's meeting place, between Prat, Cordovez, Matta and Los Carrera streets.
In the middle of the square there is a stone fountain sculpted by the artist Samuel Román, surrounded by Chilean palms, jacarandas, cedars and laurels. The surrounding buildings, such as the Intendencia, the Municipalidad and the Tribunales, follow the neocolonial style adopted in the Plano Serena, the urban reform carried out between 1948 and 1952 by President Gabriel González Videla, who was from the city.
On the east side stands the Catedral, and on a corner of the square is the Museo Histórico Gabriel González Videla, housed in the former home of the president, with personal items, furniture and regional history rooms. A few blocks away are the churches of Santo Domingo, San Agustín and San Francisco, which earned the city the nickname "city of bell towers".
The square is the natural starting point for walking through the center: Prat Street and Cordovez concentrate shops and cafés, and the Recova is six blocks away. At night, the fountain and the facades are lit up.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half an hour for the square; one to two hours if you include the Museo Histórico Gabriel González Videla and the nearby churches.
Best time
In the morning, when the center is lively and the museums are open. On days with low cloud along the coast, the square is a good option while the sun hasn't appeared at the beach.
How to get there
It is located in the center of La Serena, about one kilometer from the bus terminal and some 5 km from La Florida airport. From the Avenida del Mar neighborhood, taxis and colectivos take you to the center in a few minutes.
Tip
Start your walk there and continue to the Catedral, the Iglesia de San Francisco and the Museo Arqueológico, all a few blocks away. The regional tourist office is next to the square and hands out maps of the center.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Plaza de Armas de La Serena
What is around the Plaza de Armas of La Serena?
The Cathedral, the Intendencia, the Municipality, the Courts and the Gabriel González Videla Historical Museum. Prat and Cordovez streets run off the square with shops and cafés.
Why do the buildings in downtown La Serena look similar?
Much of it was built or renovated under the Plan Serena, between 1948 and 1952, which adopted a neocolonial style with tiled roofs, arches and wooden balconies.
Can you explore downtown La Serena on foot?
Yes. The square, the churches, the museums and the Recova are a few blocks from each other, on flat streets.